Sasuke needed him.As much as, if not more than, ever.////These dreams were truly a nightmare. ////“Dammit!” Off in the short-distance Sasuke punch...ed the wall beside him, before sobbing into his now sore hand. “Why... why am I like this...??” ////Who would have dreams like THIS!?////Images of his mother, father, brother and friends flash in his minds eye.All of them surrounding him with smiling faces. All of them... there.In the center, behind them all, are those unknowable persons.Until, one. She looked around and saw that he had a bottle of whiskey on the nightstand. “Be a dear and go get some mixers. I thought I saw some machines down in the stairwell at the end.”Roger nodded. “Sprite or something.”“That’s fine.”He grabbed his wallet and what passed for an ice bucket and left the room. A couple of minutes later he was back, carrying some Sprite cans in the bucket. “Sorry, the ice machine is busted.” He looked around the room. Amanda had brought a couple of plastic-wrapped cups out. ‘Do you think that in experiencing one unknown with you my mind will be opened to all that is unknown? That I will see everything, including that which we hide from ourselves?’ ‘Yes, I think you do understand.’ He smiled warmly at her, he felt a connection with this girl, more so than he had with any that had come before her, and with it he felt his hope grow. Nzambi had sent this one to him, surely that was it, surely,… But he did not feel sure, only hope, hope feed and strengthened by her. May I remain?”Geraldine smiled. It was a tentative smile, certainly, but if this Negress were willing to shoulder some of the burden of kitchen work Geraldine would be a fool to turn her down. Her assistant, Marguerite, dutiful and a steady worker, never volunteered to take on additional duties. There was always something extra to be done.“Thank you, Sandrine. I accept.”By the end of the afternoon, the two women worked easily together. Sandrine was a quick learner, observant, and asked.